Traffic stop results in officer-involved shooting

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred at 9:33 p.m. last night in Sarasota. A deputy made a traffic stop at U.S. 301 and 28th Street with a second deputy in a separate vehicle as backup.

Shortly after the first deputy exited his vehicle, the driver of the white Jeep Liberty accelerated toward him. Both deputies opened fire on the vehicle. The driver traveled a block south on U.S. 301 and lost control of the vehicle and crashed into bushes and another car in the parking lot of the Sunoco gas station on the southeast corner of 27th Street and U.S. 301. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger of the vehicle fled.

Both deputies are on routine paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].